auntblabby wrote:
power windows need a manual overdrive for safety's sake. but power windows themselves are considered a safety feature if for example a bee flies into the car and the driver loses it.
When Volvo was Volvo (Before Ford took them over and later sold them to a Chinese company), Volvo insisted that their cars had to have at least one manual means to open a window. This on the lower spec cars was the rear window openings, and on their higher spec cars was a manually operated sunroof which would completely open up as an emergency means to exit the car if the car electeics short out.
Some of todays designs are positively dangerous. Had a Renault that would automatically lock all doors after about 12mph. This means if one drove into a lake or a flood and the batfery shorted one would be locked into ones car with no means to get out, and most manufacturers now do this.
Ford thought up an idea which unfortunately the criminal elemsnt took advantage of. Their idea was a good one in regards of safety. If one locked the doors andhad a frontal crash, sensors would sense the crash and unlock the doors. Sadly aftef two years of fitting Fords with this feature, criminals realized that if they banged hard on the bonnet, all the doors would unlock and open. Fortunately for crime prevention, this was discontinued on their cars... But is sad that there are criminals. a poor reflection on modern life.